National Milk Producers Federation

National Milk Producers Federation’s annual event was the first cheese competition that utilized grading standards to improve cheese quality.

Randy Mooney, from Rogersville, Mo., was re-elected chairman. Ken Nobis, from St. John, Mich., was elected First Vice Chairman. Nobis had been serving as NMPF Treasurer.

Minnesota congressman also tells dairy groups to keep the pressure on EPA.

“No one’s interests are well served when the debate surrounding efforts to reform federal dairy policy is subjected to selective or less than complete reporting of pertinent research,” said Jerry Kozak, NMPF CEO and president.

As states waver in face of pressure, national dairy group says feds need to hold fast in defense of food safety.

The reforms could lower the U.S. all-milk price by 92¢/cwt, trigger supply management programs 40% to 45% of the time and lower cumulative net farm operating income 32% to 48%.

A civil lawsuit claims the nation’s milk producers, including Arden Hills-based Land O’Lakes Inc., conspired to thin cowherds and raise prices.The federal lawsuit filed last month in Northern California says members of the National Milk Producers Federation financed a “herd retirement” program that removed more than 500,000 dairy cows from production between 2003 and 2010.

Casey’s Dairy Advancement Act would not include any supply or growth management component, but would continue the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program or allow dairy producers to enroll in the Livestock Gross Margin-Dairy program.

Dairy Today’s Jim Dickrell and National Milk Producers Federation’s Jerry Kozak discuss new dairy policy, the Dairy Security Act of 2011.

Some would prefer to keep the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program over Foundation for the Future. But these statistics about MILC may be surprising.

The suit alleges that cow culling unfairly allowed dairy farmers to earn more than $9 billion in additional revenue.

Idaho congressman Mike Simpson is the lead Republican in support of the House Ag Committee’s Dairy Security Act.

The legislation will replace current, outdated dairy programs with new risk management tools.

Congressman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) believes sign-up for the program will be similar to the 70% sign-up for the Cooperatives Working Together program

The dairy reform package introduced last week will save a projected $167 million over the first five years and $131 million over 10 years.

Program represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major improvements, says National Milk Producers Federation.

Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), a dairyfarmer-owned cooperative, and Darigold, Inc., its wholly owned milk processing subsidiary, recently pledged support for the draft dairy reform legislation released by House Agriculture Committee ranking democratic member Collin Peterson (D-MN) earlier this summer. Peterson, who plans to introduce the legislation this fall, will be joined by Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) as a co-sponsor. The proposal is based on Foundation for the Future (FFTF), a comprehensive dairy reform proposal authored by dairy leaders across the country."Our decision to support the Peterson/Simpson proposal is not one taken lightly,” according to Jim Werkhoven, Chairman of the Northwest Dairy Association and Darigold boards of directors and a dairyfarmer in Monroe, Washington. “We began our evaluation of the proposal more than a year ago, by presenting it to the membership at our annual meeting. Since then, we have discussed the plan in many forums, including area producer meetings. There is an industry consensus building around Foundation for the Future that promises improved economic stability for dairyfarmers and ensures food security for the nation.”

Committee members hear concerns that current dairy programs don’t provide a meaningful farm-level safety net.

National Milk Producers Federation says the plan’s Dairy Margin Protection Program helps farmers insure up to 90% of their milk production against low margins.

LOL chairman Pete Kappelman: "[The proposal] has the potential to dramatically improve the traditional approach to dairy policy...”

The website, www.StopSupplyManagement.com, explains John Pagel’s opposition to the supply management portion of Foundation for the Future

With the political mood in Washington focused on cutting federal programs, it’s imperative to get dairy economic safety net reforms done right, says this California dairy leader.

National dairy leader Jerry Kozak points out the inadequacy of the current program and the need for better dairy policy.

“This amounts to an unexpected, unfair and unwarranted tax on dairy producers.”

The thrust: To start a dialogue with 1,000 consumer “key influencers” about what is right about U.S. agriculture.

The biggest concerns were over perceived unfairness of the margin protection insurance portion of the plan and market stabilization.

DBA says the solution for Wisconsin is not limiting milk supply but better risk management tools.

The three-hour meetings, in 12 locations across the country, are designed to give producers a detailed look at the proposed dairy reform package.

A summary of the most dramatic attempt to reform federal dairy policy in decades.

The numbers are positive enough for FFTF to move forward.